“What do you say? Are you willing to give me another chance?”
“I should be asking you that.” Ever since I met him, all I’ve wanted was a chance to get to know him. Gavin is a man that I wouldn’t be able to turn away from even if I tried. He swept me away the moment I saw a genuine smile mark his face. I wanted to know what it would take to keep that smile on his face and soothe his pain.
“Are you sure you’re okay with the media talking about us? Possibly taking our picture?” I roll my lips into my mouth and bite down, my furrow deepening. I’m not sure if he’ll truly be okay with that aspect of my life. I know Gavin wouldn’t ask me to give up my dream, but would he be willing to live it alongside me as my popularity grows and people become curious about my personal life?
I think back to my favorite artists. I usually hear about them when something major happens in their lives, but eventually, the news dies down. Country music isn’t exactly Hollywood. I think it also helps when those musicians show a bit more of their life on social media. Maybe if I give fans updates myself, there won’t be much to surprise them with. It wouldn’t give the media much to share since I’ve already done it.
“I want you.” His hands cradle my face. “I’ll protect Penny’s privacy as much as I can and trust that eventually they’ll move on from the newness of our relationship.”
“I think my chat with the photographer helped.” I giggle, remembering how I threatened him to harass his family the way he was doing to me.
“What’s so funny?” Gavin looks at me in confusion as his hands curl around my jaw.
“I was just thinking about the photographer’s face when I told him I was going to take pictures of his family and make them public.”
Gavin smiles and presses his forehead to mine. “Thank you for defending us.” His breath tickles my nose.
“It was the least I could do.” My hands fall on his lap. He stares at me with the intensity I’ve become familiar with. His rough beard presses against my skin as his lips touch mine.
One of my hands moves to Gavin’s chest, and I feel the thumping beat of his heart against my palm. I lean forward and place a kiss over his heart, and a low rumble sounds in his chest. I want to possess that heart and the man it gives life to.
Leaning back and looking at Gavin’s eyes, I smile. “You make me happy.”
He nods with his own smile. “Help me set the table.” He stands with my hand in his. I eye the pictures on the table one last time. I never expected Gavin to not have a past. I won’t be his first love, but I hope that one day I could win his trust and heart in a different way.
…
After dinner, Gavin and I sit on the porch swing with a cup of coffee. He reaches for me and settles me on his lap instead of next to him.
“I’m glad you stayed for dinner.” His lips touch the back of my neck, and I shiver at the contact. My body flushes and heats despite the cool temperature.
I was sure we were done, that he wouldn’t choose me over protecting Penny and himself, as if we couldn’t have both things in life.
“I am, too. I liked getting to know your parents.” I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. Alicia and Luke were welcoming and kind. It didn’t feel awkward to sit at the dinner table with them. It felt as if it weren’t the first time I had dinner with Gavin’s family. Like we had done this on numerous occasions, and it had become part of our normal. Our. I sigh happily.
“They like you.” Gavin tightens his arms around me and kisses my temple.
I smile at his comment. I can imagine having dinner with his family, living with him in our own house one day.
“I took a shower, Daddy,” Penny jumps out of the door, interrupting the moment, in rainbow pajama pants and a matching long sleeve shirt.
I giggle at the surprise of her coming outside and slide off Gavin’s lap. He chuckles beside me before looking at Penny. I know being with Gavin throws us into a different kind of relationship. We won’t always have privacy like couples that don’t have children, yet I’m not bothered by that reality. I can’t imagine being with someone else simply because he doesn’t have a child.
“Good. Come here.” He waves her over, and she walks toward us with the chick I gave her in her hand. I smile when I see it.
Penny settles between Gavin and me, her small hand on my thigh. “Singy missed you, so I brought him outside with me.” She looks at me with wide eyes.
“I missed him, too, but do you know who I missed more?” I lift my eyebrows.
“Who?” Penny asks, captivated by my answer.
“You.” I poke her belly, and she laughs.
“We didn’t see you for a long time.” Her eyebrows dip in the middle, and a small crease makes an appearance between her thin eyebrows. Although it had only been a week, I forget how children tell time. For Penny, it must have felt like weeks after getting accustomed to seeing me often.
“I’ll be around more.” I bump into her.
“Does this mean you’re still Daddy’s girlfriend?” Her eyes pop open, and she bites her lip. Hope is swimming in her eyes.
I cough, surprised by her bluntness. I look at Gavin over Penny’s head.
“Yeah, sweetheart, Sutton is my girlfriend,” Gavin says with confidence. I melt into the swing with an easy smile. My chest fills with joy.
Penny cheers, waving Singy in the air and bouncing in her seat. I’m tempted to cheer with her, but I control myself. It’s one thing for a
